Penile implants are often used for men who suffer form erectile dysfunction (ED) because of nerve or blood vessel damage. This can occur due to diabetes, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), prostate surgery and some other surgeries, or alcohol and medications. Implants are placed into the twin chambers in the penis. There are inflatable devices attached to a pump to provide a full erection and semi-rigid devices that always stay firm. Surgery usually takes one to two hours, and most men can go home within 24 hours of surgery.
Alternative Method
The penile implant is a good choice for men who have not received adequate results with other treatments for erectile dysfunction, including pills, injections or vacuum devices, the Cornell University Department of Urology explains. Penile implants are also used for many men who have had surgery or injuries that prevent them from producing an erection. These may include patients who have had prostate surgery, bladder removal surgery, renal transplant surgery or inguinal hernia surgery, and people with spinal cord injuries or Peyronie's disease, a scarring inside the penis.
Timely
The penile device provides an instant, strong erection at any time the man wants to have a sexual encounter. They do not interfere with ejaculation. Although penile implant surgery can be costly, Medicare and other insurance policies may cover it. Penile implants have a high satisfaction rate, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Permanent Solution
The implants help men return to an active sexual life, offering a permanent solution to ED, according to the Erectile Dysfunction Institute. They are designed to feel natural and allow the man to maintain an erection for as long as it is desired. This ability to complete sexual intercourse is satisfying to the man's partner as well. Once the implant surgery is complete, there is no more need for expensive drugs or shots.
Simple Use
Although there have been concerns about infection from surgery and malfunctions later on, new technology keeps improving the devices. A penile implant device is completely concealed within the body. Most devices consist of a reservoir that is placed in the abdomen and an inflatable pump in the scrotum along with the main implant in the penis. The user simply squeezes a valve so the pump can send a saline solution to the penis and produce an erection, much like a natural one. Pressing a valve when the sexual encounter is completed can deflate the pump.
